Excavating bucket construction



P 21, 1954 L. w. VAN BUSKIRK EXCAVATING BUCKET CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1946 JMVZIZIiEVTOR.

Sept. 21, 1954 Filed Aug. 20, 1946 L. W. VAN BUSKIRK EXCAVATING BUCKETCONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hal Patented Sept. 21, 1954 OFFICEEXCAVATING BUCKET CONSTRUCTION Lesher W. Van Buskirk, Easton, Pa.Application'August 20, 1946, Serial No. 691,829

3 Claims. i 1

My invention relates to improvements in excavating buckets, withparticular reference to the so-called dragline type although in no waysrestricted thereto.

It is a well known fact that the front or digging end of a drag bucketor the like is the most importantpart of the structure because it issubjected to extreme stress and strain in addition to being subjected tomuch more severe wear than other parts of the bucket. It is, therefore,one of the primary objects of the invention to provide a reinforcingfront or digging lip for a drag bucket or the like which will beeffective for transferring the pulling force throughoutthe entire frontend of the bucket to the digging teeth, without, however, addingexcessive weight to the bucket. Such a casting assures of long wear andeliminates fear of failure due to fatigue of the metal at the frontofthe bucket due to bending between the arch connection and the cuttingedge.

The invention also contemplates a digging front or lip for a drag bucketor the like which is adapted to relieve strain from the associated archcaused by tendency of the front of the bucket to close due to thepulling stress of the drag lines which are attached to the hitches ateither side of the bucket front.

Still another object of the invention is to furnish in a device of thecharacter set forth a novel mounting or connection of an arch with thebucket front, which latter is preferably provided by a unitaryreinforcing casting which provides tooth seats and the digging lip. Thearrangement set forth overcomes difficulty heretofore experienced in theart in respect to the tendency of the arch to separate from the sidewalls of the bucket orproduce cracks at such points due to the forcecomponent of the pulling chains or the like attached to the hitches atthe side of the bucket, and the cables or equivalent which are attachedto the arch for lifting and other purposes.

What specifically the invention contemplates, is a digging front or lipfor a drag bucket or the like, which lip takes the form of a casting andprovides whatmay be termed pockets at each side adjacent the top toreceive the lower ends of the arch element so as to effectually seat andsustain the same against stresses in all directions.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of the various parts, all of which will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled inythe art uponreference to the accom-,

panying drawings illustrating a now preferred example of my inventiveconcept. It is to be understood, however, that the illustrateddisclosure of the invention is susceptible of many changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimedhereinafter.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts in all views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating, in fragmentary form, a dragbucket incorporating my invention;

Fig. ,2 is a front elevational view of the bucket;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bucket disclosingthe novel casting and arch structure at the front thereof; 1

Fig.4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,illustrating the arch seating pocket at one side of the front or lipcasting, with the end of the arch seated therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of one side of the front or lipcasting and illustrating the arch end receiving pocket;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating aportion of the front or lip casting, the arch receiving pocket, and thelower end of one side of the arch seated therein, the last mentionedportions being illustrated in dotted lines.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts throughout the several views, numeral 6designates generally a conventional type of drag bucket, while referencecharacter 1 indicates removable digging teeth 9.

generally a casting providing the front or digging lip of the structure,and having the digging edge provided with the spaced seats 8 for the Thedigging teeth 9 are, or may be, of conventional construction.

What is contemplated especially is a front casting which while light inweight serves to add a minimum to the weight of the bucket structure,yet is extremely strong and durable so as to withstand the hard usageand wear to which it is subjected in practice. Preferably I usemanganese steel for the casting 1 and so as to economize in weightwithout sacrifice in strength and wear-resisting qualities, the castingis provided with a novel arrangement of ribs.

Fig. l, for instance, illustrates a front rib l0 curving from the siteof the tooth seats 8, at the front edge of the casting 1, and extendingrearwardly from the tooth seats; then upwardly and forwardly to thehitch plates It, to which latter reference will be made later, more indetail.

Thus, the front edge rib I serves to take the hard knocks and wear towhich the front edge of the bucket casting is subjected.

Fig. 1, and likewise Fig. 3, illustrate a second rib l l extending fromthe bottom of the casting 1,

in spaced relation to the front rib Ill and to a rearwardly disposed rib12, also extending from the bottom of the casting I. The intermediaterib ll follows the curve of the front rib ID, in spaced relationshipthereto, as previously mentioned, but does not extend all the wayforwardly to the hitch plates 16. The rib ll terminates about half wayfrom the bottom of the rib or casting 1 to the hitch plate I6.

The rearwardly disposed front-reinforcing rib [2, however, extendsforwardly to the associated hitch plate [6, merging with the horizontalreinforcing rib M. This horizontal reinforcing rib I4 extends from therear edge of the casting (there being a rib [4 at :each side, of course)to the .hitch plate 16.

The casting '1 has its rear edge at each side provided with areinforcing rib [3 beginning about half way up "from the bottom of thecasting and crossing the end of the horizontal reinforcing rib II.

From above the horizontal reinforcing rib I4 the rear edge of thecasting 1 which is, by the way, defined by rib l5, curves forwardly andupwardly to define the horizontal top at each side of the casting. I,which top terminates in the hitch plate bearings lfia.

At this point, reference is made to the tapered arch receiving pockets25 which are formed integral with the casting I at each side adjacentthe top thereof. The pockets 25 are supported by the horizontalrearwardly curved top ribs l5 and by the laterally extending topportions I la of the subjacent horizontal ribs 14. The pockets 25 arefurther reinforced by the flanges 250. about three sides thereof, whichflanges are, of course, integral with the rear edge and top providingflange l5 of the casting. Each pocket 25 rein- 'forcement is alsoprovided by the top hitch bearing flange 'orpiece lea-illustrated inFig. l,

as a continuation of pocket reinforcing flange 25a. Figs. 1 and 3 alsoillustrate the lower pocket reinforcing flange Ma as connecting thehitch plate I5 with the rear flange I3 of the casting I.

The pockets or arch end receiving sockets 25 are, which is heretoforestated, formed integral with casting 1 and as shown are spaced at theupper forward ends of the casting 1. The inner plate 23 of the archstructure is flaredat its lower end and the casting I is provided with arecess or -=pocket 25b,the upper edge of the bucket 6 being slotted asat 25c to-receive and allow the passage of the lower end 23a of theinner arch plate '23 to pass 'th'erethrough to seat within the recess25b. As best seen in Fig. 4 the lower end of the arch plate 23, afterthe same has been moved through the slot 250 in the bucketrim, haswelded thereto a protector or filler plate 25d which lies flush with theinner surface of the bucket as the plate 25d also fits-within theopenin'g'ZSc-and the recess 25b. Of course it will be understood thatthe inner side, that is the side of the socket 25 adjacent the innerbucket side, has no wall, but is open with the exception of the top railof the bucket.

Incidental reference has hereinabove been 'm'ade'to the hitch plates 16. These may be made integral with thecasting 1 but preferably each ofthe hitch plates I6 is provided with a vertical rear end recessreceiving the forward portion of the associated side of the casting land welded thereto. However, this is merely an incidental feature.

The hitch plates [6 terminate at their forward ends in the spacedhorizontal bearing portions Ilia which portions are vertically aperturedto receive the bearing pin l8. Bearing pin l8 secures the rearhorizontal ears or bearing portions ll of the conventional hitch havingthe chain attaching portions l9 which are pivoted to the parts I!by'means of a horizontal pivot pin 20.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theillustrations in the drawings, it will be apparent that the ribformation H), h, l2, with the associated horizontal rib I4, and rearedge rib l3, I5, will effectually transfer the stresses from the teeth9, efficiently and properly throughout the front of the bucket. It willlikewise be evident that stresses applied to the hitch connections [9will be properly distributed and the front or digging lip 1 willefficiently withstand tendency of the sides of the bucket at the frontto close inwardly toward one another as the result of pull line-exertedstress applied to hitches l9. By this expedient, fatigue of the metal atthe front end of the bucket, due to bending of such front end, isresisted thus relieving to .a considerable. extent, strain upon the arch.21. It

is to be understood, of course, that one of the functions of the arch2|, is to counteract the inwardly tapered ends 21a of said arch beingseated in the correspondingly tapered side pockets .25, previouslymentioned. Thus, the terminal ends Zia of the arch 21 are sustained .inall directions. The .sides of the arch terminals seat against the frontand rear ends of the pockets :25, while .the tapered outer portion 22.of each arch end is sustained by the tapered outer wall of the pocket25. It will be understood that the ends 2 la of thearch will be weldedorotherwise secured in the supporting pockets 25.

Heretofore, there has always been the tendency of the attachingsides ofthe arch, such as 11,120 crack or for the side walls of the bucket towhich the arch ends are attached, to crack under the stress of severeand rough usage to which the bucket is subjected in practice. However,with my construction, as illustrated herein and described, the arch 2lis virtually an integral part of the casting 1, so that stresses appliedto the arch are transmitted to the casting in ahighly efficient andsatisfactory manner.

Referring more specifically to .the .arch .2I, it

will be observed that in the .present instance the same comprehendsspaced outer and inner parallel plates 22, 23 to the free edges of whichare welded side plates '24. So as to provide greater strength andrigidity, the inner .arch plate 23 has the forwardly extending lowerportions 23a which are flared as at 231) toward their lower portionswhich are welded to the inner side portions of the bucket or casting I.A line attaching fixture of any preferred or standard form is indicatedat 26, carried by the top of the v:arch2l,

as usual.

By use of the novel casting or digging front 1, as an aid in resistingthe tendency of the digging front of the bucketclose, underacti0n of thepulling chains, danger of the arch 2i being stressed beyond its elasticlimit and safe coeflicient of deflection is obviated.

Also, the provision of the arch end seating pockets 25 of digging front1, and the flange supporting means I3, I 4, Ma, l5, therefor, make thearch 21 substantially an integral part of said digging front-providingcasting l. The result is that the pulling stresses of the chainsattached to hitch connections [9 (which stresses as aforesaid tend toclose the front of the bucket) are not transferred back through thebucket body to cause fatigue of the material constituting its sidewalls.

The ribs I0, I I, I2 and for that matter, the ribs [3, I5, tend toprevent inward bending of the sides of my bucket under pulling action onthe hitches l9. The ribs or flanges lfia, 25a, 15 and for that matterthe ribs Ma at the lower portion of the socket 25, counteract tendencyof the wings or sides of the bucket front (see Fig. 1) to twist underpulling action on the hitches l9 and prevent a twist tendency from beingapplied to the arch 2| which would result in the seams of the arch legsultimately separating.

A front arch structure herein disclosed will give satisfactory servicefor an indefinite period without increasing the weight of the bucket 6.A bucket so designed and equipped can dig hard material without soarranging the hitch that the bucket will kick up in the back.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A dragline bucket or the like open at the front, and having side andbottom walls, a reinforcing member secured to the open front end of thebucket, the reinforcing member having digging teeth along its lower edgeand coincident with the bottom wall of the bucket, cable hitches carriedby the respective sides of the reinforcing member, tapered socketsformed at the upper edges of the reinforcing member and near the frontthereof, an arch member extending crosswise of the bucket and havingdepending legs engageable within and secured to said sockets, said archconsisting of two side plates, an outer plate fitted between the twoside plates and an inner plate, the ends of the side plates and outerplate converging to a wedge shape end to fit within the socket, the saidplates tightly engaging the walls of the socket, and a rearwardlyextending reinforcing rib connecting each hitch and the related socketwith the rear portion of the reinforcing member to prevent twistingaction being applied to the legs of the arch member by way of thereinforcing member and socket as the result of pulling force beingapplied to said cable hitches.

2. A dragline bucket or the like open at the front, and having side andbottom walls, a reinforcing member secured to the open front end of thebucket, the reinforcing member having digging teeth along its lower edgeand coincident with the bottom wall of the bucket, cable hitches carriedby the respective sides of the reinforcing member, tapered socketsformed at the upper edges of the reinforcing member and near the frontthereof, an arch member extending crosswise of the bucket and havingdepending legs engageable within and secured to said sockets, said archconsisting of two side plates, an outer plate fitted between the twoside plates and an inner plate, the ends of the side plate and outerplate converging to a wedge shape end to fit within the socket, the saidplates tightly engaging the walls of the socket, and a rearwardlyextending reinforcing rib connecting each hitch and the related socketwith the rear portion of the reinforcing member to prevent twistingaction being applied to the legs of the arch member by way of thereinforcing member and socket as the result of pulling force beingapplied to said cable hitches, the reinforcing member having an integralrecess adjacent the inner side of the socket member, an opening in theupper edge of the bucket and registering with said recess, the innerplate of the arch termimating in a flared portion and movable throughsaid opening into said recess when the arch end is moved into the socketand welded within said recess.

3. A dragline bucket or the like open at the front, and having side andbottom walls. a reinforcing member secured to the open front end of thebucket, the reinforcing member having digging teeth along its lower edgeand coincident with the bottom wall of the bucket, cable hitches carriedby the respective sides of the reinforcing member, tapered socketsformed at the upper edges of the reinforcing member and near the frontthereof, an arch member extending L crosswise of the bucket and havingdepending legs engageable within and secured to said sockets, said archconsisting of two side plates, an outer plate fitted between the twoside plates and an inner plate, the ends of the side plate and outerplate converging to a Wedge shape end to fit within the socket, the saidplates tightly engaging the walls of the socket, and a rearwardlyextending reinforcing rib connecting each hitch and the related socketwith the rear portion of the reinforcing member to prevent twistingaction being applied to the legs of the arch member by way of thereinforcing member and socket as the result of pulling force beingapplied to said cable hitches, the reinforcing member having an integralrecess adjacent the inner side of the socket member, an opening in theupper edge of the bucket and registering with said recess, the innerplate of the arch terminating in a flared portion and movable throughsaid opening into said recess when the arch end is moved into the socketand welded within said recess, and a filler plate fitting within saidrecess and covering the lower flared end of the inner plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,695,480 Bouy Dec. 18, 1928 1,767,691 Mitchell June 24, 19301,938,163 Yaun Dec. 5, 1933 2,398,360 Danielset a1 Apr. 16, 1946

